Subaqueous tunnel.



E. W. MOIR.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1906.

938,265, Patented 0011.26, 1909. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i INVENTOR 6W2 mmfi y ATTORN EYS E. W. MOIR.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR.10, 1906.

938,265. Patented 0011.26, 1909. e sums-sum 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR AT ORNEYS E. W. MOIR.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLICATION FILED 11113.10, 1906.

938,265. Patented 00a. 26, 1909. j

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F/c J/ wwMEssEs INVENTOR ATTORNEYS E. W. MOIR.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLIOLTION FILED MAR.10, 190s.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

I mam M W 1 TM E ATTORNEYS E. W. MOIR. SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1906.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

e SHBETSSHEET 5.

III/IIII/l/A INVENTOR II I III

WITNESSES ATTORN Evs E. W. MOIR.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 10, 1906.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

iNVENTOR .65 w 2%.

BY I WM WITNESSES:

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- Unrrnn sra'igss PATENT orrion.

ERNEST W. MOIR, OF LONDON, ENGLAN SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1906. Serial No. 305,318.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST W. Mom, a subject. of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing in the city of London,

-England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Subaqueous Tun- I of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in subaqueous tunnels and particularly that class of subaqueous tunnels which are formed from a series of tubular sections,

. means whereby it may be more easily and tion taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 2;

permanently connected with the adjacent sections.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 1 show my apparatus in vertical see- Fig. 2 shows the apparatus inrcross-sectional elevation; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the construction of one section partly broken away with the adjacent.

sections in connected position Figs. 1 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and 11, show in sectional detail various ways of making the joint between adjacent sections; Fig. 12 shows in sectional detail a further modification; and Figs. 13 and 14 show a sectional view and an exterior elevation respectively with the means for connecting and calking the sections according to the modifications shown in Fig. 12;-Figs. 15 and 16 are end views showing modified forms of sections with double passageways; and Fig. 17 is a side view of a section having modified form of caisson.

Referring to these drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 1 and Fig. 2', 15 represents a temporary staging spanning the proposed course of the-tunnel and supported on piles 16 driven into the bed of the river, or the like, under which the tunnel is to pass. This staging may be of any suitable construction of sufiieient strength to support.

the loads which it is intended to carry, and being of temporary construction, it maybe removed the tunnel is completed and erected again in advance or along the pros- Patentcd Oct. 26, 1909.,

pective tunnel way. Running longitudina lly on each side of the upper part of this staging is a track supporting the ends of two or more traveling cranes 17.

Each crane has a hoisting means 19 mounted on a carriage 1S capable of-being traversed on track on the lower carriage, and at right angles thereto. This coordinate arrangement of cranes provides means whereby a tunnel section 20, after being floated into the position desired, can be then accurately lowered into place. Each section 20 is constructed on land and launched at the place most convenient in very much the same way as a boat. A suitablc'bulln head 21 is provided at each end to make the tunnel watertight. The tunnel is then towed to the vicinity of the place where it is to be used.

Previous to erecting the staging 15, a large trench 4:5 is dredged in the bed of the river, as indicated in Fig. 2, to receive the tunnel sections. If desired dredging means may be carried on the forward end of the staging in advance of the cranes 17.

The hoisting cables from the cranes 19 are cranes 17 to a place above the end of the last section laid. The buoyancy of the sec tion is then reduced by loading, or otherwise, and it is sunk and moved into position.

Each section is provided with a caisson 22 near its end, or in some cases at each end, as Wlll presently be explained. This enables the bottom to be prepared and the section I brought to the proper grade, after which the caisson is filled as at 23 with concrete or the like, forming a firm foundation for the tunnel.

Each section is connected with the surface by a shaft and air lock 24 for supplying the necessary-materials, and to maintain the air pressure, as well as to enable the workmen to 1 pass up, and down. This shaft may be built up from a series of tubes as the tunnel section is being lowered. The size of these sections may vary as desired. Figs. 15 and 16 show modified forms of sections, provided with two passages for traffic in opposite directions. The outer tube may be round or oval. Between this and the two inner tubes 46 and {t7 cement 48 is preferably filled in. The air shaft 43 connects with the caisson by passing down between the tubes.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, all the sections used in constructing the tunnel are not of exactly the same style. In the first place the central section shown, for example, is pro vided With two caissons 22, one near each end, which support not only the ends of that section but the ends of the adjacent sections. In the second place, this section is provided with a temporary bulkhead. 21 at each end, which is strengthened to withstand the end pressure by girders 25 on the inside. The bulkheads of the adjacent sections are each provided with double air lock chambers 26, 27, in the upper part, with connecting doors 28 to enable a diver to pass into the space 29 between the two tunnel sections. Suitable ladders 30 are placed where necessary to enable the divers to conveniently reach all parts. If preferred this caisson may extend the entire length of the section as shown in the modification, Fig. 17.

My preferred form of joint between the sections is-ot the spigot style, for example, such a. is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. section is lowered into placeit is moved into approximate position (Fig. 4) and a hollow tube of rubber or other elastic material 31 is placed between the large and small ends of the two sections. This tube may be expanded by introducing air under pressure and then may be filled under hydraulic'pressure with cement or the like while still in its plastic condition (Fig. 5). The cement hardens in that forin'and the joint is permanently calked. The bolts 32, if used as in Fig. '5, are then applied to the interior flanges 33, 3st, in as many places as necessary ,and the two sections are then fixedly secured". The same principle applies where the flanges are on the outside as Figs. 8 and t), or where the bolts are not used as in Figs. 10 and 11. As these bolts are put in place,'prefcrably beginning with the upper part of the tuniie the water in the space .29 is gradually pumped out through the locks 26, 27, and such further calkiug as is necessary is done, the pressure being increased as the water is drawn oil. Vlhcii the joint is made watertight all around, the bulkheads and air'locks may be removed and communication established with the completed part of the tunnel.

The insides ol' the sections arepreferably lined \vith ccment, and if desired, cement or the like may bc applied to the outside completely covering the tunnel.

'lhc modification shown in Figs. l2, l3, and l t has another style of joint, which may be used. Instead of the spigot: connection. hall ofthecml oi each section is provided with a projecting grooved llango 35 adaptcd After a to engage a ridge 36 on the corresponding half of the adjacent section. Each ridge is provided with a groove 37 adapted" to hold an elastic calking tube 38, as was ex-- plained in describing the other connections. These sections may be secured by means of cross-bolts 3t) and 40 (Fig. 13) applied to the ends of adjacent sections. The exterior of this connection with the calking material 38 is shown. Guides 41 are applied to one section to slide on guide rods 42 secured on the adjacent section. This enables,,.th e section to be placed in exact position at once. These sections are, of course, supplied with the necessary bulkheads and caissons as shown in connection with the other figures. I claim as my invention-- 1. A tunnel section used in the construction of subaqueous tunnels, comprising a tube having a bulkhead near each end,

girders for supporting the bulkhead, and

air lock means for passing through the bulkhead.

2. A tunnel section used in the construction of subaqueous tunnels, comprising a tube having a bulkhead near each end, the end of said section adapted to engage the corresponding end of an adjacent similar section, and air lock means whereby the space between the bulkheads may be entered. a,

3. A tunnel section used in the construction of subaqueous tunnels, comprising" a tube having a bulkhead near each end, the end of said section adapted to engage the corresponding end 01 an adjacentsimilar section, and air lock chambers on the inside of one of the bulkheads whereby the space between the bulkheads of adjacent sections may be entcred. J

at. A tunncl section used in the construction of subaqueous tunnels, comprising a.

end of an adjacent similar section, one end being smaller and fitting within the larger I end of the adjacent section, and means whereby the oint is calkcd as the sections are brought together.

(3. A tunnel section used in the construc-fl tion of subaqueous tunnels, having a caisson on its underside,- a shaft communicating between the interior of the section and the atmosphere, and an air lock in said shaft.

7. A tunncl comprising sections which have, bulkheads ncar their ends, the end of one section adapted to engage the next,

means for making a tight joint between adjacent sections and air lock means whereby the spaces between bulkheads may be entered.

8. A subaqueous tunnel, having its. sec- 5 tions joined with calked joints, the'calking consisting of a hollow flexible tube filled with cement or the like.

- 9. Asubaqueous tunnel, having its sec-- tions joined withspigot joints, the calking 

